DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Grant Opportunity
SUMMARY:
The City of San Antonio Department of Human Services requests authorization of the following budgetary, grant, and associated actions related to an application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families for expansion of the Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership program:
a) Submission of application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and acceptance upon award of up to $1,746,400.00 for the Early Head Start- Child Care Partnership program budget, including up to $500,000.00 for start-up, for the period of March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020. An in-kind match of up to $436,600.00 from the Department of Human Services and partner providers will be required, for a total annual budget of $2,183,000.00, and a personnel complement of 5 new positions. This funding will provide for 76 additional childcare slots and wrap-around services for children zero to three years of age. Slots are planned for the Alamo College’s Eastside Education and Training Center early childhood program, located in City Council District 2; San Antonio ISD’s early childhood program located at Cooper Academy at Navarro in City Council District 5; and existing Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership providers;
b) Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Human Services to negotiate and execute any and all necessary documents to effectuate the application and acceptance of this grant and grant contract, and to execute grant contract amendments pertaining to the grant when approved by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to include: a) carry-over funds; b) line item budget revisions; c) modifications to the performance measures so long as the terms stay within the general parameters of the intent of the grant; d) no cost extensions; e) supplemental grant funds in an amount up to 20% of the total amount initially awarded; f) reimbursement increases or decreases due to a change in the number of participant served; g) one-time equipment purchases or defined program services; and h) changes in regulations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City’s Department of Human Services currently manages the Child Care Service Providers Program and two Head Start program grants (Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership). These programs combined provide early care and education and support services to more than 11,000 children and their families on a daily basis.
Since 2015, the City of San Antonio has received funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish and manage an Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership program. This program provides low-income children (ages 6 weeks to 35 months) with safe and enriching learning environments to promote physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development while supporting parents and families by addressing social and economic needs through customized case management and support.
Additionally, this program provides a two-generation strategy by allowing parents to work or remain in school while providing access to high-quality early childhood education and care for very young children.
This ordinance will augment the current program funding approved by City Council in March 8, 2018 in the amount of $3.4 million for the period of August 2018 to July 2019. This funding provides 216 slots for low-income infants and toddlers within the inner city at child care centers located in Edgewood and San Antonio Independent School Districts, Blessed Sacrament Academy, Ella Austin Community Center, Healy-Murphy Center, Inman Christian Center, Seton Home, and Young Women’s Center. The City’s Health Department and University of Incarnate Word provide health and dental services to enrolled children.
ISSUE:
On October 29, 2018, the Administration for Children and Families announced the availability of approximately $140 million to be awarded for new Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grants to expand availability of high-quality, comprehensive services to low-income infants and toddlers (0 to 3) and their families.
The City of San Antonio Human Services Department is recommending the submittal of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in connection with the Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Program in the amount of $2,183,000.00 including an in-kind grant match of $436,600.00; and five new positions for the period of March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020. This funding will support 76 additional slots for low income infants and toddlers. The new grant would also create new partnerships with Alamo College’s Eastside Education and Training Center (EETC) in City Council District 2 and the San Antonio Independent School District’s Cooper Academy at Navarro in City Council District 5.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this ordinance is not approved, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services may award funding to other providers that may not serve San Antonio-area families; if this occurs, 76 inner-city San Antonio children and families will not be served and continue to be on the waitlist for service.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes acceptance of a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the amount of up to $1,746,400.00 for an Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Program budget, including up to $500,000.00 for start-up, for the period of March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020, and a personnel complement of 5 positions. This ordinance authorizes an in-kind match of up to $436,600.00 from Department of Human Services and partner providers for a total budget of $2,183,000.00.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance.